Originally Posted by
Captain Bligh
My first reaction too was, "You know they are going to try to play us against each other...". Realistically however; the surviving management has to consider the potential fallout if the pilots percieve any attempt to be divided and conquered. Especially if the pilots are motivated by being gamed and can preemptively cooperate and build unity.
LCC should give plenty of warning that the synergies management pines for have a short half life. I'd really like to see the books at LCC. Undoubtedly they are saving on pilot wages because a new JCBA hasn't and wont happen, but do pilot wage savings make up for all of the dual costs that still exsist at LCC (relative to management's pre merger expectations of course)?
Just conjecture, but I think you will see more of an attempt to create division at the JCBA negotiating tables, than during or as a result of SLI. ALPA more or less controls the SLI without management input. Not that management wouldn't like to tamper, but ALPA merger policy is clear.
The NCs however are highly more likely to being approached with under the table offers. Discussing our concerns publically, gives us chance work on those issues and to direct our union officials accordingly. This is as a golden opportunity for ALPA, especially leadership at the national level, to do the right thing.
I've been considering some advanced degree work in a totally unrelated field - trying to grow personally and I thought this piece was interesting and may summarize our situation regardless of the color of your current uniform.
Prisoner's dilemma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I think both NCs are ready willing and able to resist those temptations that no doubtedly will be thrown their way.
As most of the US pilot industry knows how big an oppurtunity it is to reverse the continual downward slide of our profession - so does every major airline BOD - to try to keep things as close to status quo as possible. They KNOW they will have to give something, but the more they "keep" for shareholder value the bigger the bonus check will be for them.
This is the playing field that is layed out before us. I firmly believe we have the collective talent and intelligence to play this chess match and right the course of our profession.